Battery hand lamp



oct. '23,' 192s.

H .F.Bl-:EBE

BATTERY HAND LAMP Filed April 25, 1927 m1-1% l BY 721W( Wurf-A1 WM ATTORNEYS Patented oa. 23, 192s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HERBERT F. BEEBE, F NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 'WINCHESTER RE-v PEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

' BATTERY HAND LAMP.

Application iiled April 25, 1927. Serial No. 186,398.

This invention relates to battery hand lamps of the type including a casing for the batter ,a lamp bulb, a switch mechanism for contro ling the electric current through the battery and the bulb, and a bottom end cap for closing the bottom end of the casing and holding the battery in proper position within the casing. The present invention more particularly concerns supporting means carried l0 by the bottomH end cap of a hand lamp ofthe type described, whereb such lamp may be conveniently supporte from a hook, peg or other support.

It has been found desirable and convenient to provide hand lamps of the type described with suitable means, such as a hook or ring, for use in hanging the lamp vertically from a hook or eg, the` lamp casing extending downward y from such support. A supportthat it does not in any way interfere with the operation and handling of the 1am while at the same time it is readily accessib e when it is desired to hang the lamp on a su port.

ith the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposedin accordance with the resent invention to provide a battery hand) lamp having an improved form'of supporting means mounted on the bottom end cap thereof, and, more specifically, it is proposed to provide a supporting 'means in the form of a hook which is so mounted and arranged that it may be folded down into a depression in the bottom end cap or the bottom end of the casing of the lamp when not in use, whereby no partvof the supporting hook 1s exposed to accidental contact wit' the hands or clothing of the operator or with other ob'ects. v V v It isa furt er object of the invention to provide a supporting hook of the type described which has a swivel connection with Y the end cap, in order that this hook may be 5 turned to various positions relative to the hand lamp when in use.

Other specific objects, advantages and characteristic features of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof 0 progresses.

In describing the invention in' detail, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a poring'means of this type should be so mounted Avided with a de Fig. 5 1s a view of the lower end ofthe vbottom end cap showing a modified form of the lamp supporting hook. i

In the em odiment of the invention illustrated, the lamp comprises a metallic battery casing 1, carrying a battery 2 com osed of one or more ry cells arranged en to .end in series connection in the usual and well known manner. A bottom end cap 3 closes the lower end of the casing 1, being secured thereto by a screw Athreaded engagement therewith Fas shown, or by other suitable means. The electrical circuit between the casing 1 and the base of the lowest cell of the battery 2 is completed through a spiral spring 4. The lowest coil spring 4:

is slightly larger in diameter than the interna diameterl of the end ca 3, and this coil is slightly compressed and orced within the cap where it expands and gri s the inner cylindrical wall of the cap, there y effecting a lfirm connection between the cap and the spring.

Re errmg now more particularly to the hand lamp supportin l. ook comprising an im ortant feature o the tion, t e bottom face of the en cap 3 vis propression or recessed portion resent invenn 6 of general diamond shape as shown in Fig. 2. This depression 6 fis preferably pressed or stamped in the sheet metal of which the cap 3 is formed, and is so disposed that the surface of the bottoni of the cap extends around this depression in an unbroken plane. A small pocket or extension 7 is formed at one corner of the depression 6, this pocket being coyered by an overhanging ledge or extension 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and `2. A stud T is rotatably journalled in a circular opening 9 in the depression 6 at a point directly opposite the pocket prises a piece of sheet metalghaving a circular flange and a hollow cylindrical portion 11. The cylindrical portion 11 of' the stud T is provided with alined circular openings in the cylindrical walls thereof, and one end 12 of a hook H is journalled in these openings as clearly shown. The end 12 of the hook H may be retained within the openings in the stud T in any suitable manner, and in the embodiment shown a circular groove or depression 14 is provided in the end 12 and the lowerend of the stud T is pressed inwardly to form a ridge 15 for engaging the groove 14, and thus retaining the end 12 within the stud. The stud T is thus rotatably secured within the opening 9 by means of the engagement of the flange 10 with the inner surface of the depression 6, Aand the engagement of the end 12 of the hook H with the outer face of this depression.

The hook H is formed of a suitable resilient material such as spring steel preferably b`ent to the form shown in Fig. 2, having a bend or corner 16 near the free endthereof. The hook H is of a size such that when pressed into the depression 6 it is slightly compressed, the corner 16 snapping under the ledge 8 and into the pocket 7, thereby retaining the hook H within the depression 6 when not Iin use.

vWhen it is desiredvto employ the hookH for supporting the lamp, the hook nay be easily and quickly extracted from the depression 6 by inserting the thumb or finger nail beneath the portion 17 thereof and prying the corner 16 out of the pocket 7. During this operation, the hook H turns about the axis of the lower end portion 12 which is journalled in the stud T, the free end 18 of the hook bearing against the face of the depression 6, and the operator therebyobtaining a mechanical advantage, similar to a camming action, in prying the corner 16 past the ledge 8.

In Fig. 5, a slightly modified form of supporting hook and retaining depression has been shown. In this modification, the depression `20 has an extension or pocket 21 inthe wall thereof opposite the stud T,

and two ledges or extensions 22 and 23 are formed on the walls of the depression adjacent eachside of this pocket 21 as shown. The hook H of this modification is of substantially S shape, and the end portion 424 thereof may be retained withinthe transverse opening in thestud T by any suitable means, as by flattening or enlarging the extreme end 25 thereof as shown. The hook H is formed of resilient metaland is sprung beneath ledges 22 and 23 and thus retained within the depression 20 when not in use. To extract the hook H, the thumb or finger nail is inserted beneath the hook at the pocket 21, and the hook is thus pried out from under the ledges 22 and 23.

It should be particularly noted that when the hook H is snapped into the depression 6, all parts of the hook are entirely within the plane of the bottom face of the end cap 3 and the hook is thus completely protected against accidental displacement-by contact with the clothing or hands ofthe operator or with other objects. This complete protection 0f the hook is a highly important feature. If the hook H were at any point exposed in-such a manner that it could be accidentally opened, this hook might catch on objects and the lamp might be drawn from the operators hand or such opening of the hook might in various other Vways inconvenience the operator in handling the lamp. It should be further` noted that with the hook H folded down Within the recess 6, the exterior surface of thebottom end cap 3 is unbroken when viewed from the side of the lamp, and in this .manner, a lam of pleasing appearance is provided. With the hook H folded into the depression 6, an unbroken plane surface is presented around the rim of the cap 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4,'and the lamp may be placed on end on a table or other plane surface if desired.

It is oftenl desired to hang a hand lamp on an available object in such a manner that the light beam therefrom is projected downwardly to some desired point. With the folding hook of the present invention, this may be conveniently accomplished, the hook H being pried out of the depression of the end cap and swung in any desired position ticularly adaptable for supporting the lamp from a variety of differently shaped objects. For example, this hook H may be employed to support the lamp from a, nail or peg as shown in Fig. 3, or the hook may be swung out over the edge of the lamp casing and passed over the edge of a vertical plane surface such as a partition wall or lath, or the belt or other part of the clothing of the operator.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiment illustrated and described, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the hook may be secured to the end cap without the use of the swivel connection disclosed, and various means other than those shown may be employed to obtam a universal connection between the hook and the cap.I

a hook hingedly secured to said member, and

means on the Wall of said depression opposite said member for releasably retaining said hook Within said depression.

3. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap Secured to one end of said casing, a central depression in the end of said cap, a` stud rotatably secured Within said depression near one side thereof, a lamp supporting member hingedly secured to said stud, and means for releasably retaining said lamp supporting member Within said depression When notin use.

4. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a. cap secured to one end of said casing, a central depression'inl the end of lsaid cap, aI stud rotatably secured Wit-hin said depression near one sidev thereof, a resilient hook hingedly secured to said stud, and a ledge on the Wall of said depression opposite said stud for engaging said hook when it is folded Within said depression.

\ 5. In a hand lamp, the vcombination of a battery casing, a cap secured to one end of said casing, a central depression in the end of said cap, a stud rotatably j ournalled in an opening in said depression, said stud having a transverse opening therethrough, a hook having an end journalled in said transverse open-ing in said stud, interengaging means on said stud and the end of said hook for retaining said end Within said transverse opening and means for releasably retaining said hook Within said depression.

6. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured to one end of said casing, a central depression in the end of said cap, a stud rotatably secured Within said depression near one side thereof, a ledge on the Wall of said depression opposite said stud, a Aresilient hook hingedly secured to said stud, and a bend'in said hook adjacent the free end thereof forming a corner for engagement` with said ledge whereby Said hook may be retained Within said depression.

7. In a. hand lamp, the combination of a batteryv casing, a cap secured to one end of said-casing, a central depression in the end of said cap, a stud rotatably secured Within said depression near one side thereof, a

pocket inthe Wall of said depression opposite said stud, Va resilient hook having a hinge connection with said stud, the free end of said hook terminating at a point subconnection anda corner of said hook near the free end thereof for engaging said pocket and retaining said hook Within said depression.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

HERBERT F. BEEBE.

V stantially aligned with the axis of said hinge 

